Requirements For Foster/Adoptive Families
Basic Requirements:
- Adequate Sleeping Space: Foster/adoptive families must have enough sleeping space to accommodate all family members, including their own children or children under their care.
- Maximum Number of Children: The total number of children in the home, including both biological and foster children, should not exceed six.
- Nonphysical Discipline Policy: Families must agree to a nonphysical discipline policy, promoting positive and constructive approaches to discipline.
- Home Inspections: Foster/adoptive families must permit fire, health, and safety inspections of their homes to ensure a suitable living environment for the children.
- Pet Vaccinations: All pets in the home must be properly vaccinated to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.
- CPR/First Aid Certification: Foster/adoptive parents should obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification to handle any medical emergencies effectively.
- TB Testing: Household members are required to undergo TB testing as per the guidelines set by the local Health Department.
- Ongoing Training: Families are expected to attend a minimum of 20 hours of training each year to enhance their knowledge and skills in foster care.
Can Adoptive Families Provide Foster Care?
Absolutely! Adoptive families who are open to accepting children who are not yet legally free for adoption but have a plan for adoption can also become certified as foster families. This dual certification creates more opportunities for successful adoptions. In some areas, experienced foster families participate in a "buddy system" where they offer support and share their experiences with new families who are just starting their foster parenting journey.
Responsibilities Of Foster And Adoptive Families
Foster Parents:
- Provide daily care and nurturing for children in foster care.
- Advocate for children in schools and communities.
- Keep the children's caseworkers informed about any adjustments in the home, school, and community. Report any significant occurrences involving the foster children or their own families, such as serious illnesses or accidents.
- Collaborate with the children's caseworkers as a team to work towards reunifying children with their birth families.
- Serve as positive role models for birth families.
- Help children develop essential life skills.
Adoptive Parents:
- Provide permanent homes and a lifelong commitment to children until they reach adulthood.
- Meet the short-term and long-term needs of children, including their emotional, mental, physical, social, educational, and cultural requirements, considering each child's developmental age and growth.
- Have the option to become certified as a foster family and accept children who are not yet legally free for adoption but whose permanency plan is adoption.
Can Foster Families Adopt?
Absolutely! Many families express interest in both fostering and adopting, prioritizing the needs of the children above all else. In most cases, this involves preparing children for reunification with their birth families, mentoring birth parents, or working towards relative or kinship placements.
When termination of parental rights is determined to be in the best interest of the children, and adoption becomes the plan, foster parents who have cared for the children will be given the opportunity to adopt. Dual certification of parents to both foster and adopt expedites the placement process minimizes the number of moves for the child, and allows relationships to develop from the initial placement. Nearly half of the adoptions of children in foster care by the DFPS are completed by their foster families.
Steps To Becoming A Foster/Adoptive Parent
We are excited to have you become a member of the HOS Family. There is a constant need for more adoptive and foster families to care for children who need care in our community. Below is a list of the six steps you will take on your journey to become a Foster/ Adoptive parent.
Step 1: Contact HOS Family Services
Give us a call at (682) 252-2443. You will speak with one of our dedicated team members, who will be happy to answer any initial questions you may have. They will set up an appointment for you to come in for further discussion.
Step 2: Introduction & Orientation
At this meeting, our team will help you as you take off on this new journey. We encourage you to attend a HOS Introduction and Orientation as a first step. You are also able to submit the completed application form during this meeting.
Step 3: Complete & Submit An Application
You can complete and submit an application form and background check forms online or drop it by the office if you did not submit them during the orientation. Email completed forms to info@hoshiloh.com. We may need to follow up with you for some additional information if necessary.
Step 4: Pre-Service Training & Documentation Packet
Our team will assist you with all the information you will need in this step. They will assist you in registering to participate in a series of classes that you need to be a licensed foster parent. We will also help you as you work to complete and submit the HOS documentation Packet.
Download the Documentation Packet here
Step 5: Home Study
Once you have completed most of the training and paperwork, one of our home assessors will schedule a day to come to your home to meet face-to-face with your family and complete your Home study interviews covering a range of topics, including personalities, family interests, inspirations, and goals. We will interview all household members ages 3 and older individually, all family members together as a unit, and finally, the married couple will be interviewed together. We will compile all your information into a document called a Home Study. Check our questionnaire below:
Step 6: Verification And Licensure
When all the steps have been successfully completed, we will verify your family and issue a license. A Case Manager will be assigned to support your family. They will be your primary contact with HOS Family Services.
Give Us A Call At
(682) 252-2443, And Let's Work Together Towards Achieving Your Goals.
Additional Foster Care Requirements
In order to provide a more informative and easier-to-understand version of the material, here are the revised requirements for foster and adoptive families: